发表时间:2016-09-11

1. In light of the technological route that
education is on today there has been some speculation as to the role of
teachers in future education. To what extent do you think teachers are being
replaced by computers?

当今教育随着技术发展的趋势，确实应该考虑一下教师在未来教育中的角色了。在多大程度上教师会被电脑所取代呢？

Sample：

In light of the technological route that
education is on today there has been some speculation as to the role of
teachers in future education. To what extent do you think teachers are being
replaced by computers?

Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) is quickly playing an important part in teaching in schools and other
educational institutions. As more and more subjects can be taught via the
computer, there would seem to be less and less need for teachers to be present,
as self-study and autonomous learning are encouraged with the assistance of a
computer. However, computers will never replace teachers because technology is
only a tool and can never replace the spiritual element of the teacher.

Self-study and independent learning using
technology is a means of teaching that can be highly effective for practice
drills, the study of factual knowledge, or for pure rote memorization. For
instance, computers can help students solve math exercises and memorize
historic facts. This type of teaching reduces the need of the presence of a
teacher. Online teaching or video conferencing allows a teacher to teach to a
greater number of students, optimizing costs for schools. This is already
happening at the university level where many universities are offering online
degrees, for example. Such teaching is profitable to universities as it
optimizes costs by increasing teacher-student ratios. I t would therefore seem
that technology is making the teacher more and more redundant.

But a crucial element has to be considered
with regards to ICT and teaching. Good teaching takes place when the learning
is directly associated with our emotions. We learn best when what we are
learning has a direct implication on what we believe and what we feel. The
computer may communicate concrete knowledge, but only the teacher is able to
communicate wisdom, to build self-confidence, and to make one think creatively,
which is a more important part of learning. Therefore, no matter how
sophisticated technology becomes, a teacher will always be needed, because only
with the presence of the teacher is there true interaction.

What will happen is that technology will
not replace teachers. Instead, teachers will no longer be able to teach
students by rote memory or drill type exercises. The computer will take care of
that. The teacher will have to stimulate the minds and bring out the creativity
in his or her students. The teacher will have to become a better teacher, a
real teacher. ICT will improve teaching, and force teachers to be better
teachers; it will never replace the teacher, it will only make him or her more
important.

2. The younger generation is up-to-date
with new techniques and advances in science. They are often better able to make
important decisions than their parents are. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion?

年轻一代伴着日新月异的新科技长大。所以他们比父辈更加有能力作出重要的决定。你是否同意？

Sample：

The younger generation is up-to-date
with new techniques and advances in science. They are often better able to make
important decisions than their parents are. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion?

The Net-Generation is here and whether we
like it or not younger generations are in a position to be able to make
significant decisions that will affect us all.

What causes this generation to be poles
apart from its predecessors is not just its demographic force but that it is
the first to mature surrounded by digital media. Computers can be found
everywhere and digital technologies such as cameras, video games and DVDs are
now commonplace. Increasingly these new media are linked by the Internet, and
increasing web of networks which is attracting a million new users monthly,
according to popular news sources. For today’s youngsters digital
technology is no more frightening than a VCR or a vacuum cleaner.

For the first time in history children are
more at ease, clued-up and literate than their parents about an innovation of
innermost importance to society. I would argue that it is through this use of
digital media that the N-Generation will develop and superimpose its culture on
the rest of society.

Already the Net-Generation is defining
itself as a reckonable force for social transformation. Unfortunately, few
parents are aware of what their children are doing in cyberspace which
intensifies the traditional norms associated with the generation gap. School
officials are also struggling with the reality of students often being far more
intelligent on cyber-issues and new ways of learning than their teachers.
Likewise, corporations are trying to establish what these kids will be like as
employees since they are used to very different ways of working, collaborating
and creating and they discard many basic assumptions of today’s companies.

I believe that there is no single issue
more imperative than understanding what the Net-Generation intends to do with
its digital expertise. There is a lot we can find out about a whole generation,
which is in the process of taking on new media, from the children who are most
adept in their adoption of this technology.

3. Many are of the opinion that the
Internet is inundating our children with dangerous information. There is however
no doubt that the Internet represents great advances in communication and the
dissemination of information. Discuss the pros and cons of the Internet and
present your opinion on this matter.

许多人认为互联网使青少年陷入了危险的信息当中。但是互联网又毫无疑问地代表了交流和传播信息的进步。讨论一下你对互联网的正面负面影响的看法。

Sample：

Many are of the opinion that the
Internet is inundating our children with dangerous information. There is
however no doubt that the Internet represents great advances in communication
and the dissemination of information. Discuss the pros and cons of the Internet
and present your opinion on this matter.

Bearing in mind the likely effects of the
Internet on today’s users is important, because it is an issue that is discussed daily
nowadays by people in both the private and public sectors. It is an everyday
occurrence to come across articles in newspapers and there has been a visible
boom in websites devoted to the trend. I would like to argue that the
importance of this topic, regarding the pros and cons of the Internet, lies
somewhere in the broader framework of questions raised by the Internet debate.

The Internet as the name suggests is a
complex net of computer. Conversely, it might be more useful to think of the
Internet as a network of people who make use of computers. A significant
feature of the Internet is that it offers more ways to communicate than any
medium in the past; thereby enabling users a variety of ways to retrieve
information from the same computerized network system.

It is widely accepted by most that
education is something that most, if not all people come into contact with at
one point or another in their lives. This contact occurs typically and to the
greatest degree at an early age. The principle role of schools is to educate
people about their nation and the wider world, and also to help prepare them
for the job market. The problem of unemployment is a commonly recognized fact.
If schools are indeed doing their best to prepare young people for the job
market, then their national curriculum needs to reflect the skills considered
necessary for the most popular work sectors.

Depending on its use, the Internet may or
may not contribute to the development of key skills related to critical
thinking, group work, and problem solving. Over the course of time, I believe
children will most likely adopt a different and possibly greater responsibility
as learners when using the Internet.

As we are all aware, there is more
information offered on the World Wide Web than anyone could possibly need and
most of this information is very easily reached. Therefore, students have to
act responsibly when choosing what information to use. The risk of being
distracted while using the Internet is always there; however, even if young
learners do browse off every now and then, they are still using the most
hi-tech interactive tool we have in education for today’s world.

4. Spending money on scientific research
should only be approved when there are economic benefits resulting form the
research. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

只有能带来经济回报的科研项目才应该被批准。你是否同意？

Sample：

Spending money on scientific research
should only be approved when there are economic benefits resulting form the
research. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

A primary challenge for developing and
post-industrial societies is not only to garner enough funding for scientific
research but to go further in their spending for development if they want to
secure positions as truly knowledge-based economies. An appreciation for
investing in scientific research has matured steadily in recent decades. Having
said this however, most would agree that it is not easy to gauge the direct
social and economic benefits resulting from scientific research. Many of the
features of our modern world are the direct results of scientific research.
Computers are but one area that receives a staggering amount of investment as
countries compete with one another for stakes in this lucrative market. Medical
research, likewise, is well worth the investment that is made for finding new ways
to ensure the well-being of those fortunate enough to be able to receive
treatment. These are but a few obvious examples.

However, what is almost certain is that in
many cases the time from scientific discovery to the commercialization of
research results may often be long. However, there are many instances of
breakthroughs in research that provide additional support for the popular
principle that public investment in basic science generates continued economic
and social benefits.

The evidence presented in research journals
available to the public confirms that government-funded research is a vital
source of investment for increasing a society’s knowledge and
skills. When governments invest in scientific research their funding in trun
expands the technological opportunities available to companies who wish to
develop new products and processes. Such spending on scientific research also
supports the education of students who in turn transfer their competencies in
science and technology into the private commercial sector.

Due to the widespread understanding that
the development of economically viable research projects is often a lengthy and
time-consuming process it is natural that some people would be opposed to the
idea of further government money being spent on scientific research. However, I
believe the rewards from research and development are well worth waiting for in
this ever changing world of ours.

5. Although many benefits may result from
space exploration, the costs involved are enormous. There is some debate as to
whether this money could be more wisely spent to provide for the basic needs of
mankind such as food, clean water, contraception etc. For this reason space
exploration should be restricted. What is your opinion?

Although many benefits may result from
space exploration, the costs involved are enormous. There is some debate as to
whether this money could be more wisely spent to provide for the basic needs of
mankind such as food, clean water, contraception etc. For this reason space
exploration should be restricted. What is your opinion?

One giant step forward for mankind: there
were the words of American astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on
the moon.

Space exploration is considered by most
developed countries and those aspiring to compete in the race for development
as the last frontier known to mankind. However, there are many people who
belong to nations which have space programs who question the expenditure
involved in continued space exploration when it is apparent that money is
needed to deal with many of the world’s existing problems,
for example, pandemic situations like AIDS and poverty that are always on the
increase.

A trip to the moon was an incredible
success in 1969; however we have plainly taken a step backwards in the last 30
years or so. The dreams of travel to outer lying planets like Mars and Pluto
remain as distant as ever, not forgetting the dream of interstellar voyages and
exploring new solar systems. A big part of the problem is that our current
technology is simply unable to realize these dreams. Even our best chemical
rocket would take somewhere between one and two years to reach the closer
planets and this is largely due to the fact that before reaching the desired
destinations rocket fuel is likely to run out.

The amount of money required to fuel space
exploration programs of such large proportions begs the question of just how
feasible all this spending is. It is clearly prohibitively high and a key
objective for the years ahead will be to lower the cost to a fraction of today’s value. In
the meantime however, we need to realistically face the problems existing on
our earth which are far more pressing and far more concerned with true
development.

Making dreams come true on this planet, of
a better world for everyone to live in, is surely more achievable for mankind
than reaching outer lying galaxies which are light years beyond our existing
capabilities.

6. Technology is making it possible to stay
at home and work. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and present
your opinion on this issue.

科技可以使人们足不出户就可以工作成为可能。请阐述其优点和缺点，并给出你的观点。

Sample：

Technology is making it possible to stay
at home and work. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and present
your opinion on this issue.

There is a revolution going on in the
developed world whereby the work-from-home dream is becoming more and more of a
reality for millions of workers wishing to save time, see their families more,
and achieve overall work-life equilibrium. This is made possible for many by
advances in information and communications technology, namely with the advent
of the Internet and mobile telecommunications such as broadband phone
connections.

In the following paragraphs I will examine
both the potential benefits and downsides of this new phenomenon which allows
high-speed transmission of data from your personal computer at home to your
clients and work colleagues in different locales.

It is true that computers these days have
greater processing power than they did just a few years ago, but working from
home is not just an issue of cost-saving. People are tired of commuting and the
time spent on trains and subways is a precious commodity that could be spent
more effectively on work. In many cases working from home is not actually a
choice for most business executives who are accountable for business
transactions around the clock.

For those people with young children,
working from home has many incentives. Indeed, one could argue that a lot of
flexi-working has evolved around parents’ child-rearing responsibilities.
However, those parents who are working from home are now experiencing new
pressures in the work-from-home setting. In spite of the paybacks from less
travel and more flexibility, there is downside with increased working hours.
The reality is that all home workers with children feel that balancing home and
work responsibilities is easier said than done.

To make one final point, it is important
when considering this growing trend in working from home that we do not see it
as an easy option.

7. With the development of modern science
and technology, some aspects of traditional culture are being lost, and some
people now believe that traditional cultures will eventually be replaced by
modern science and technology such as computers and the Internet.

随着现代科技的发展，传统文化的某些方面必然会失去。有人认为传统文化最终将被电脑等现代科技代替。你的观点是什么？

Sample：

With the development of modern science
and technology, some aspects of traditional culture being lost, and some people
now believe that traditional cultures will eventually be replaced by modern
science and technology such as computers and the Internet. What is your opinion
on this matter?

Digital information technologies are
symbolic of the dominant global culture that is currently taking our world by
storm. Due to developments in modern science and technology, traditional ways
of earning a living, learning something new and even that of existing are
rapidly transforming. This transformation in the way we communicate and live is
as significant as the invention of writing which altered the course of ancient
cultures before us.

Nevertheless, up-to-the-minute technologies
have the capacity to preserve many aspects of traditional culture. Indeed, if
we are to employ information and communications technologies effectively,
traditional values and ethics can help us make decisions for the proper use of
these new technologies, In this essay I will explore how the negative impact of
the Internet on traditional cultures and values can be lessened through
awareness-raising exchanges and education.

In most parts of the world governments
authorities reacted to the introduction of the World Wide Web by prohibiting
unlimited access to all Internet sites. They argued that some content found on
the Internet would jeopardize traditional cultural and religious values. In the
last few years, however, although this issue is still hotly debated among the
powers that be, we are now seeing bans lifted on Internet access in all corners
of the world.

The Internet is changing traditional
cultures by offering users new means for voicing their opinions about
everything, including politics, religion, and love. For example, in the United
Arab Emirates where the two sexes are firmly segregated, the Internet is
enabling men and women to communicate in new ways that were not permissible
before. Additionally, as a communications medium the Internet is allowing
traditional values to be heard alongside more unconventional values as users
face up to different ideas and hear other people’s opinions.

The networking and awareness-raising
potential offered by computers and the Internet about different cultures and
values is unlimited. Now that we have people from more traditional cultures
communicating online it is almost assured that their values and beliefs will be
more readily heard and respected by the all-encompassing global Internet
community.

8. Does modern technology make life more
convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? What is your opinion?

现代科技真的使生活更方便了吗？还是说过去技术比较简单的时候生活更好些呢？你怎么看？

Sample：

Does modern technology make life more
convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? What is your
opinion?

It is difficult to think how we managed our
lives before the widespread use of everyday technologies such as the Internet
and mobile phones which we now take for granted. Despite this, how often do we
stop to question ourselves, before going online to check our email accounts,
whether modern technology has really made our lives more convenient? Some
people may actually answer to the contrary, that modern technology has made
their lives more complicated and even more difficult.

The obvious advantages of modern-day
technologies are many. For example, if I do not want to go home and wash my
laundry and wait for the weather to clear so I can hang it outside to dry, I
simply invest in a machine that can both wash and dry my clothes. In addition,
I would feel safer in the knowledge that because my clothes are not hanging up
outside the possibility of them being stolen is greatly reduced.

Inventors throughout the ages have thought
of practically every device imaginable to assist humans in conducting their
everyday affairs, from baby strollers to life-support machines. In fact, we are
inundated with technological contraptions in this modern world and there is no
sign of a reversal in this trend occurring.

Imagine for a moment, if there were no
television or computers. How would you know who had won the latest soccer
match? Or what was going on in the news? What would the weather be like
tomorrow? The problem with modern technology is not the unlimited choices in
gadgetry now made available to us; but instead, it is our increasing inability
to tune out from an overload in information and our growing reliance on
machines that perform midless taskes which we could simply do for ourselves.

The use of modern technology does inspire
inventors, designers and engineers to speculate on what technology will be like
in the future and how it could further mankind’s survival and
development. However, before we turn around and say technology is the best
thing that ever happened to us, it is vital that we remember who is in control
of technology in order for it not to take over our lives completely.

9. Modern technology has had a great
influence on people’s entertainment choices, making them less creative. To what extent
do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

现代科技对人们的娱乐有巨大的影响，使得人们缺乏创造性。你是否同意这种观点？

Sample：

Modern technology has had a great
influence on people’s entertainment choices, making them less creative. To what extent
do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

There exist many different types of
entertainment technologies which cause us to behave in a variety of ways.
Television, for example, only requires passive viewing and listening and can be
looked upon as a form of entertainment which dulls the mind. The Internet, on
the other hand, requires users to be interactive through the employment of, for
example, different motoring skills i.e. clicking, selecting text etc. , to more
challenging tasks such as searching, emailing, chatting, and the
uploading/downloading of software. A lot of people are still choosing
television as their preferred entertainment for relaxing after a hard day’s work, but
even more people are getting excited about the on-line world as they discover
what it can do for them.

The irony of this essay question is that
without creativity we could not have the modern technology that we use today.
We would not have television or the Internet. Similarly, we would not have MP3
players or DVDs. Every invention known to mankind has always resulted from
creative thinking. Arguably, creativity is our most important asset; and
information is an inestimable tool. With no electronic databases, PCs, and
other supportive networking technology, we would be hard pressed to organize
all of our information efficiently and effectively.

However, if we examine the example of the
Internet closer, we can also discern that the quantity of information on-line
is escalating at a staggering rate. This means that it is difficult for
individuals to remain up-to-date in their chosen fields. This means that it is
difficult for individuals to remain up-to-date in their chosen fields. Due to
this increasing pressure in the working world, it is therefore necessary for
people to band together, to work collaboratively, and to think creatively and
imaginatively to thrive and even to survive.

In conclusion, I would like to add that the
days of choosing modern technology purely for entertainment purposes are
diminishing. It is no longer enough to merely own modern gadgetry. Instead, you
must be able to show that you can manipulate technology creatively to suit your
every purpose.

10. What differentiates one country from
another is becoming increasingly difficult to define in today’s world.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to have the same consumer products and
to experience the same media the world over. To what extent do the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages?

What differentiates one country from
another is becoming increasingly difficult to define in today’s world.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to have the same consumer products and
to experience the same media the world over. To what extent do the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages?

Globalization certainly has the potential
to bring about great advances for humankind. On a daily basis, we are
eyewitnesses to how borders of time and space that once separated countries and
the activities therein appear to be diminishing.

In industrialized areas of the developing
world we can observe a growing international trend in leisure time pursuits.
Chinese youths wearing Nike sneakers in Shanghai hang out in Starbucks over a
cup of coffee in much the same way that their American counterparts do in New
York. In particular, younger generations the world over who can afford access
to media technologies like cable television and the Internet often encounter
the same media such as advertisements, films, TV channels, popular brands and
so on.

However, it is not presently guaranteed
that these advances are equally shared by all members of the global community.
The truth lies somewhere closer to the fact that global market forces often
have negative effects on the distribution of public goods such as social, a
clean environment, or diverse cultural expression.

Many argue that the costs of globalization
are too high and that differences between countries and communities need to be
maintained before we quickly and completely lose all sense of who we are, where
we came from and what choices are still available to us.

Therefore, it is necessary for the global
community to place greater emphasis on the impact of globalization on human
welfare. In order to achieve a just and equal distribution of the benefits of
economic globalization, its negative side effects need to be counteracted by
reforms in government at the international, regional and local levels. Only by
further developing the way in which we manage our societies can we make sure
that those currently not in control of globalization can make their voices
heard in the political processes affecting the range of their own personal
choices.

11. Technology can bring many benefits, but
it can also cause social and environmental problems In relation to new
technology, the primary duty of governments should be to focus on potential
problems, rather than benefits. Please discuss the issues raised here and offer
your opinion.

科技能带来许多好处，但同时也会造成社会和环境问题。就新技术来讲，政府应该主要盯住潜在的问题，而不是带来的益处。请谈谈你的观点。

Sample：

Technology can bring many benefits, but
it can also cause social and environmental problems In relation to new
technology, the primary duty of governments should be to focus on potential
problems, rather than benefits. Please discuss the issues raised here and offer
your opinion.

It is true that new technologies can create
serious social and environmental problems. The question is whether governments
should focus on these problems when they are formulating policies related to
new technology.

Some people would argue that governments
have an important watchdog role to play and that they should attempt to
establish whether a proposed technology is likely to have any harmful effects.
This is seen as an aspect of government looking after public interests and
showing concern for the welfare of its citizens. These are the same people who
have invested the government with the power to veto the introduction of certain
technologies.

The problem with this approach, however, is
that it is very difficult to know in advance what the full effects of any new
technology will be. The history of science and technology has many fascinating
examples of unexpected developments. Sometimes a technological advance in one
area can lead to a surprising breakthrough in another, seemingly unrelated
area. For example, technology which originated from the US space program has
been further developed and applied in many other areas of life. And one
certainly cannot depend on government bureaucracies to make accurate
assessments about these matters.

Another problem is that, where one
government might decide to ban the use of a new technology, another country may
well go ahead with its introduction. In an increasingly competitive global
economy, the first country may severely disadvantage itself by such inaction.

New technology is essential for a country’s economic
development. The best approach is to positively encourage the development of
new technologies and to focus on their benefits. Any problems that may arise
can be dealt with after implementation.